UK surname
A locational surname derived from French place names like Darne or Darney.
In the 1881 census there were 27 people recorded with the Darnes surname, ranking it #29,793 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 49, ranked #34,957, down from #29,793 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Halifax, Bourn and Ipswich St Nicholas, Ipswich St Mary at Elms. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Darnes is 152 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 81.5%.
1881 census count
27
Ranked #29,793
Modern count
49
2016, ranked #34,957
Peak year
1861
152 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Darnes surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Darnes surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 42 | #25,706 |
| 1861 | historical | 152 | #15,126 |
| 1881 | historical | 27 | #29,793 |
| 1891 | historical | 132 | #19,976 |
| 1901 | historical | 89 | #24,154 |
| 1911 | historical | 78 | #25,013 |
| 1997 | modern | 51 | #32,545 |
| 1998 | modern | 56 | #32,313 |
| 1999 | modern | 56 | #32,461 |
| 2000 | modern | 51 | #32,999 |
| 2001 | modern | 51 | #32,850 |
| 2002 | modern | 47 | #33,548 |
| 2003 | modern | 47 | #33,619 |
| 2004 | modern | 47 | #33,819 |
| 2005 | modern | 49 | #33,859 |
| 2006 | modern | 48 | #34,245 |
| 2007 | modern | 51 | #34,272 |
| 2008 | modern | 51 | #34,439 |
| 2009 | modern | 47 | #34,856 |
| 2010 | modern | 48 | #34,946 |
| 2011 | modern | 50 | #34,816 |
| 2012 | modern | 50 | #34,814 |
| 2013 | modern | 49 | #34,952 |
| 2014 | modern | 49 | #34,991 |
| 2015 | modern | 50 | #34,886 |
| 2016 | modern | 49 | #34,957 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Halifax, Bourn, Ipswich St Nicholas, Ipswich St Mary at Elms, Manchester and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Halifax | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 2 | Bourn | Lincolnshire |
| 3 | Ipswich St Nicholas, Ipswich St Mary at Elms | Suffolk |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Darnes surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Darnes, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Darnes surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Darnes household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Darnes is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Darnes is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Darnes, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname DARNES is believed to have originated in England, likely during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational surname derived from a place name, possibly from the village of Darnes or a similar-sounding location. The name may have roots in Old English or Anglo-Saxon words, but its exact etymology is uncertain.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the DARNES surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the late 12th century, where a person named Radulfus de Darnes is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already established in that region by that time.
In the 13th century, the DARNES surname appears in various tax records and legal documents, such as the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1232, which mentions a Robert de Darnes. The surname is also found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1279, listing a William de Darnes.
During the 14th century, the name continued to be documented in various records across England. For instance, the Poll Tax records of Yorkshire from 1379 include an entry for Johannes Darnes. Additionally, the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in 1317 mention a Thomas de Darnes.
Notably, in the 15th century, a prominent individual named Robert Darnes was born in Gloucestershire around 1420. He served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire in 1459 and played a role in the Wars of the Roses.
Another notable figure with the DARNES surname was Sir John Darnes, who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Born in Buckinghamshire around 1570, he was a military officer and served as a Member of Parliament for Buckinghamshire in 1604.
In the 17th century, the DARNES surname can be found in various parish records and legal documents across England. For example, the Parish Registers of Stratford-upon-Avon from 1642 include the baptism of a child named Edward Darnes.
Throughout the centuries, the DARNES surname has undergone various spelling variations, such as Darns, Darnse, and Darnish, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings in earlier times.
While the DARNES surname is not among the most common surnames in England, it has a long and rich history, with mentions in various historical records and notable individuals bearing the name over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Darnes surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lincolnshire leads with 10 Darnes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.76x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lincolnshire | 10 | 23.76x |
| Rutland | 9 | 466.32x |
| Leicestershire | 3 | 10.28x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 1.14x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 1.13x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.38x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bourn in Lincolnshire leads with 9 Darnes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2647.06x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bourn | 9 | 2647.06x |
| Ketton | 9 | 9000.00x |
| Leicester St Margaret | 3 | 42.13x |
| Abbots Bromley | 1 | 769.23x |
| Aylesby | 1 | 10000.00x |
| Finchley | 1 | 99.01x |
| Halifax | 1 | 26.11x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 10.33x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 4.72x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Darnes surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Darnes surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Darnes households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 10 |
| Bricklayer | 3 |
| Dressmaker | 2 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Dom Servt | 1 |
| Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Hosiery Trader | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Shoe Rivetter | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 27 people were recorded with the Darnes surname. That placed it at #29,793 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 49 in 2016. That gives Darnes a modern rank of #34,957.
A locational surname derived from French place names like Darne or Darney.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Darnes bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.